Crutch



R. BEAM CRUTGH Filed Oct. 13. 1921 July` 15 '1924.

Patented July 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES n 1,501,580 kPATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT BEAivnor KALAMAzoo, MICHIGAN, Assronoa 'ro H. 1vr. LOWE, or BATTLE i CREEK, MICHIGAN: j

CRUTCH.

Application filed October 13, 1921. Serialy No. 507,564.

To all whom# may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT BEAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain J new and useful Improvements in Crutches,

il of which the lfollowing is a specification.

The presentjinvention more particularly relates to crutches capable of adjustment, 1o wherein the length between extremities as y, well as adjustment of the handles may be readily' accomplished. j

Among other objects the invention contemplates making the' side standards tele-` scopically adjustable, whereby the desired `length may be easily attained; whereby the handle may be regulated to suit the requirement of the user; whereby in making adjustment for either the handle or the side standards there will be no weakening of the parts;

and whereby the crutch will be comparatively simple, neat in appearance and substantial. To the'foregoing ends my invention consists in the combination and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, shown in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing aforesaid, Figure 1 is a broken side elevation partly in section of my improved crutch showing the parts in locked operative engagement.

Fig. 2 is a broken section of the crutch Lon the line a' of Fig. 1, but with the clamping lever elevated in the mannerof releasing the binding of the parts.

Fig. 3 is a detail section longitudinally of the handle, a cross section through the telescopic side standards at the handle intersection with the clamping lever in position for releasing the binding of the parts.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an intermediate clamping band. Y

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a forked clamping member.

Like marks of reference refer to corresponding or equivalent parts in the different views, in which A represents forked tubular uprights of a central standard or leg 1, the uprights being disposed substantially parallel, of uniform length, and each having a longitudinal slit 2 extending from its free end to a point somewhat below a handle B interposed between said uprights, said slits preferably being disposed transverse to a plane of the forked sides.

CAD

Adapted to littingly slide in the openffree ends of the forked sides A, tubular extension sides C are placed. These extensions at their tops are fitted with a customary armsupporting curve 3, the arrangement of the Fitted over each of the side standards A, u

forkedclamping members 4 are placed, the forks of said members having aligned holes adapted to nicely fit on said standards when the parts are in operative'position, the interj offset v5' with a central hole 6. Between the forks of the clamping members 4, intermediate clamping bands 7 are placed. These bands are formed to nicely slide on the side Vmediate portion of a member forming an il standardsA, and when in operative position a stem 8 projects through the hole 6 in the offset 5' of the member 4. The outer ends of the stems 8 are screw-threaded, one of the i stems being right the other left handed, and

each adapted to be received by correspond- "i inglyv screw-threaded openings in the ends of a U-shaped clamping lever D and also correspondingly screw-threaded openings vin the handle B, as shown.

The arrangement of the parts is such that lwhen the clamping lever D is elevated, as

shownin Figs. 2 and 3, a relaxingA ofthe binding kparts is effected, permitting the standards C to be telescopically moved either in or out on the standards A, and t v also'permitting the handle B together with all yits connective members to 'bei moved along the sidey standards to accommodate anyadjustment required of thegcrutch, a

downward movement of the lever D forcing i' I the clamping bands 7 outward, and through the medium of the slitted standards lA causing said standards to slightly collapse and impress the standardsfC, and at the same time disrupting the alignment of the tubes through the` eyelets of the forked members 4 and the clamping bands 7, most effectively preventing any loosening or sliding of the parts thus bound.

' The adjustment of the parts having been effected, the handle B is turned sufficiently on the threaded stems 8 to bring the ends of said handle snugly against the ends of the lever D to effect an unbroken and smooth appearance of the assembled parts, sufficient resiliency in the parallel side standards permitting such operation to be easily effected.

In assembling parts the clamping bands 7 are placed between the forked eyelets of the members el in proper position, thence the clamping member D and handle B are properly screwed to place, after which the assem#l blage is placed with the aligned eyelets of the members 4 and 7 about the side standards A, lthe ,arm-supporting standards `C being then placed within the slitted standards A and the parts locked, as occasion may require. .n

A crutch made of aluminum lor a combination of metal and wood is comparatively light, thoroughly stable, and made yto one general specification will fulfil Ithe ,purpose for which a crutch is ordinarily used land also anyI requirements which may arise, `in the great majority of cases.

From the foregoing` description taken in connection with the drawing it is believed that the operation and advantages yof my improved crutch will be fully comprehended. t Having, therefore, set forth my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is :rl

LA crutch, the combination with oppositely-disposed side members, of a forked yoke having aligned openings fitted about each Aof said side members, a clamping member fitted about each -of said side members between the yaligned openings of said yokes and having threaded Shanks extending through free openings in offset portions of ,said forked yokes, a U-shaped clamping lever having aligned threaded `apertures in its ends fitted on `to said threadedshanks, and

a handle having threaded. apertures in its lends adapted vto thread onto said threaded shanks between the .ends of said U-shaped clamping lever, substantially las specified and for the purpose set forth.

2. A crutch, .the combination with oppoksitely-disposed side members, of a forked .yoke having aligned openings 4fitted about each of said side members, a clamping kmember fitted Yabout each `of said side `members betweenfthealigned openingsof said yokes and having threaded Shanks extending from said clam-ping members through free openings in offset portions of said forkedyokes,

one of said Shanks having a. right and the other .a left handed screw thread, :a U-shaped clamping lever having aligned right and left handed screw-threaded openings at its ends fitted onto the screw-threaded Shanks of said clamping members and a handle interposed between the ends of said clamping lever and having one right and one left handed screw threaded aperture adapted to receive a correspondingly-fitted end of the screw-threaded Shanks of said clamping members, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A crutch, the combination of forked tubular sides having a slit in each side opening at its end and on a side transverse to a plane through lsaid fork, an arm-support having side extensions adapted to telescope within saidforked sides, a handle interposed between said forked sides, yokes having aligned openingslitted about said forked sides at each end of said handle, clampingy ,members between the aligned openings of said yokes and having threadedk shanks,said threaded shanks extending through apertures in offset portions of said yokes, a U- shaped clamping lever having aligned openings in its ends threaded onto the threaded Shanks of said clamping members, said handle having threaded apertures in its Aends adapted to screw onto the ends of said threaded Shanks between the lends of said clamping lever, to be operated substantially as and in the manner specified and forthe purposes set forth y 4. In a crutch, the combination with oppositely-disposed slidably fitted side portions, of forked members having aligned y ROBERT BEAM. litnesses F. A. ALLWARDT,

H. AfVAN HUYSEN. 

